You may know Molly Jo Hall from her work with Lyric Arts’ education programming, or her roles in multiple productions on the Main Street Stage, or from her performance as a gorilla in this past year’s Halloween Parade (could you tell it was her?). Learn more about Molly Jo before you see her perform in the Cabaret variety show.

LA: What was the first show you were involved with at Lyric Arts?
Molly Jo: My first show at Lyric Arts was Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 2011. I was cast as Mrs. Potiphar, "wailing woman,” Apache Dancer understudy, and Gad's Wife–which was the role where I was cast opposite of my now husband, Ben.

LA: How has Lyric Arts changed your life?
Molly Jo: It gave me a place as an actor, choreographer, and teacher to test the waters and learn to develop my skills in a safe, educational, and honest environment.

LA: What is the best part about being in a show at Lyric Arts?
Molly Jo: A professional and fast rehearsal process and an intimate work space on stage. The thrust stage makes for fun and creative staging that is constantly being used for different shows in different and unique ways. Not to mention, as a semi-professional theater, Lyric Arts provides large productions at a high quality level that are available to the performing community of all levels, beginners and experienced.

LA: Without giving too much away, what do you feel are the "wow" elements of the Cabaret?
Molly Jo: There are some pretty incredible vocalists in this production, and some numbers may surprise you and show your favorite Lyric Arts performers in a new light.

LA: What is a dream show that you’d love to see produced on the Main Street Stage?
Molly Jo: Musicals: West Side Story, Company, Next To Normal or The Last Five Years.
Straight Plays: The House Of Blue Leaves, The Diary of Anne Frank or A Streetcar Named Desire

LA: What has been your favorite experience at Lyric Arts?
Molly Jo: Being a pastor's daughter myself and playing the role of Ariel Moore in Footloose, a far more rebellious pastor’s daughter, was incredible. With the show being a rather long run filled with high-energy dance numbers, emotionally raw scenes with a complex character, and vocally strenuous numbers, that show was emotionally and physically draining. I refer to that show as Performance Boot Camp. I was able to grow as a performer in dance, vocally, and as an actor.

LA: Please tell us a little bit about yourself?
Molly Jo: I was born and raised in the Twin Cities and I am the youngest of three sisters. I started singing in the church choir and continued all through school including college. I graduated with a BA in Children and Family Ministries with a minor in Theatre from North Central University. I'm currently working as a nanny, a workshop instructor for the Lyric Arts education program, and performing and choreographing throughout different theaters in the Twin Cities area. I was married last May to a wonderful musician and teacher, Ben Schrade, and we live in Anoka.

LA: Can you give us a clue to which number you’ll be performing in the Cabaret?
Molly Jo: I am a princess, a murderer, and a scientist.

LA: Do you ever get stage fright?
Molly Jo: I do, I do. There are two times for sure. First, waiting in the wings to go on stage. I am always worried I'm going to forget something. The second would be before EVERY audition. I believe Chorus Line said it best: "God, I hope I get it!"

LA: What is your biggest acting goal?
Molly Jo: I would like to continue performing as long as I can in theaters throughout the Twin Cities area. I would love the chance to work at the Children's Theater Company. I hope to someday make this a family affair. We could be like The Family Von Trapp.

LA: Who is your favorite actress/actor?
Molly Jo: I am more and more impressed with Gary Oldman; that man has done everything and well! I also love Emma Thompson and Kelli O'Hara.

LA: Can you share any special ‘tricks of the trade?’
Molly Jo: Being unkind gets you nowhere. I believe a director and fellow actors care just as much about your character offstage as they do about the character you're playing onstage. Challenge yourself constantly, be humble with roles you get and don't get, and thank God for all the open doors you've been given.

We met Emily and Monica Swinney after a performance of Wait Until Dark and we were struck by their story as a military family. They had planned as a family to attend Christmas in the Airwaves t Lyric Arts in December 2015 ut were left with one empty seat when Adam was unexpectedly called away to serve.

This year, they had hoped he would be home to see Christmas Story, ut unfortunately, he is currently serving in Iraq. Emily and Monica plan to attend the show on closing weekend. So, we wanted to take a moment to tell their story in recognition of all that military families do in service of our country. Here is their story.

As the holiday season begins, we wanted to take a moment to say thanks to all those who are giving to Lyric Arts by volunteering their time. We have a very busy season with two holiday shows and we asked Gina Sauer to share her thoughts about our volunteers as well as what are needs at this December.

It is that time of year when we come to you and ask for your support through individual donations. Give to the Max Day 2016 is coming up this week (Thursday, Nov. 17) and we are asking all of you to help us rally support to help achieve our goals!

This year, we are celebrating our 21st season and as you may have read already in our blog entitled #LyricArtsIsLegal, we are growing fast and we need the funds to keep pace with that growth.

Therefore, we thought it would be fun to center our fundraising campaign goals around the number 21. We have sent some big goals for our year-end fundraising campaign but we are confident that the love and passion for our theater runs deep and that our supporters will heed the call and rise to the challenge.

"'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse." But wait! A mouse is stirring, because Santa missed his house last year. Before you can say "Merry Christmas!” we're off on a wild adventure involving a mouse, an elf, and a spunky little girl who just won't take no for an answer.

Lyric Arts has turned 21, we have now reached “adulthood” and we are officially legal.

“Saying, ‘We’ve turned 21, so now we are legal,’ started as a joke amongst staff members. But, it has really struck a chord with our community of artists and audiences because, in some ways, it is a really accurate description of where we are as a theater company. Lyric Arts has come out of its adolescence and is beginning the next step in its development. It’s our early adulthood,” says Laura Tahja Johnson, Lyric Arts’ Executive and Artistic Director.

Humorist Jean Shepherd's memoir of growing up in the Midwest in the 1940s follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker in his quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun under the tree for Christmas. Ralphie pleads his case before his mother, his teacher, and even Santa Claus himself, at Higbee's Department Store. The consistent response: "You'll shoot your eye out!"

REVIEW: Cherry and Spoon recently visited Lyric Arts to see Always... Patsy Cline. Here is what she had to say: "The new production at Lyric Arts in Anoka is perfectly cast, full of heart, and highly entertaining for anyone whose ever heard Patsy's music, and let's face it - who hasn't?"

Find out what else Cherry and Spoon thought of the show and watch a video featuring Gracie Anderson and Catherine Battocletti talking about "Capturing Cline."

In just over a week, Gracie Anderson will take the stage as Patsy Cline in Always... Patsy Cline opening Friday, October 14. It will be the sounds of Gracie's voice that fills the stage and brings audiences back in time to reminisce about how these Patsy Cline classics came to life.

We invite you to take a look at a top ten list of Patsy Cline songs and tell us your favorite. And to get you started on that journey down memory, please watch our video with Lyric Arts alum, Kate Beahan singing a beautiful medley.

Lyric Arts

Lyric Arts Main Street Stage, located in the heart of historic downtown Anoka, offers a full season of live theater (including musicals, dramas, comedies, and children’s productions) and intimate live music events as part of their “Music in the ‘Burbs” Concert Series.

The Main Street Stage (formerly the Anoka Cinema Building) was fully renovated in 2001 and features free parking, a warm and welcoming environment, and a cozy 228-seat bowl-style theater with comfortable stadium seating—there isn’t a bad seat in the house!

Lyric Arts’ lobby boasts a concession stand and bar, serving wine, beer, candy, soft drinks, fresh-popped popcorn, Caribou Coffee, and other hot beverages, all of which you can take right into the theater with you.